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Since the advent of aviation and aircraft, a number of developments have increased the ability to manipulate the aerodynamic forces that aircraft are subject to during flight. Whether for lifting off, turning, or slowing down, flight surfaces ease the ability of control for pilots, enabling more safe and efficient flight operations for a multitude of applications. When travelling at lower airspeeds, having increased lift can greatly affect the performance of aircraft. To achieve such lift, many designers utilize leading edge flaps and slats that are placed on wings.
Learn MoreWith a multitude of commercial flights being conducted worldwide every day of the year, aircraft often fly through a number of rainstorms and wet weather. To maintain visuals during flight and protect the windshield, aircraft must remove rain and wetness for safety. From basic wipers to chemical rain repellents, there are a variety of methods and rain repellent parts that airplane manufacturers employ to remove liquids from the windshield.
Learn MoreAn air ring gauge, commonly known as a ring gauge, is a cylindrical ring of thermally stable material such as steel whose inner diameter is finished to gauge tolerance. Air ring gauges are used to check the external diameter of a cylindrical object. More simply put, an air ring gauge is a device used to measure air pressure. Air ring gauges fit over the external measurement of a diameter. They are typically made from ground hardened steel. When the ring gauge is placed over a workpiece, the resulting pressure is displayed as the diameter of the part.
Learn MoreA gas turbine engine is an internal-combustion engine that uses gas as the working fluid to turn a turbine. Their efficiency and operational supremacy make them a very popular option for jet aircraft. There are two types of gas turbine engines, classified by two factors: the type of compressor they use, and how the power is utilized. This blog will explain both types of gas turbine engines and their basic operation.
Learn MoreAutomatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast equipment (ADS-B) refers to specific devices that permit air traffic controllers and aircraft operators to communicate and transfer flight pertinent information such as locations, flight paths, and more. With this exchange of information, operators are able to conduct much safer flights, also resulting in more direct routes and increased cost efficiency. The ADS-B also serves as a critical facet of the Federal Aviation Administration’s goal of Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) implementation, slowly replacing the radar-based air traffic control systems that have been utilized since 1960.
Learn MoreThe turbine engine lubrication system plays a critical role in the performance of any aircraft engine. While these systems vary depending on things like engine model, aircraft type, and manufacturer, there are 6 components present in virtually all engine lubrication systems: the oil tank, oil pump, turbine oil filters, oil pressure regulator valve, oil pressure relief valve, and oil jets. This blog will explain each component and their role within the system as a whole.
Learn MoreWith the advancement of technologies that are featured on modern aircraft, a plethora of antennas are now a commonplace sight all over the body of a plane. While they may look like lightning rods, they are actually a variety of aircraft antennas that serve various functions, ranging from communications to radar. Depending on their application, antennas may be spread out across the top and bottom of the fuselage and nacelle, as well as other areas. In this blog, we will provide a basic overview of some of the standard antennas featured on aircraft.
Learn MoreEvery so often, you’ll read about a dramatic story of someone being struck by lightning. And while the story might certainly have been dramatized, the actual chances of anyone getting struck by lightning are extremely low. The odds of being struck in your lifetime is 1 in 3,000. You might be surprised to hear that lightning has struck aircraft slightly more frequently than it has people. It is estimated that on average, each airplane in the U.S. commercial fleet is struck lightly by lightning more than once each year. The difference here is that modern aircraft have been designed to take such lightning hits without having its flight influenced. Read on below for details of what actually happens when lightning strikes a plane.
Learn MoreDuring flight, lightning strikes on aircraft is a daily occurrence around the world. This is most often caused by aircraft flying through a static charged cloud. Despite fears, there is often little to no damage caused by strikes, and aircraft are thoroughly inspected after the flight. With the many important components and combustible fuel that is present, aircraft are expertly engineered to provide the utmost protection against electric charges. In this article, we will give a short overview of how aircraft are protected against lighting.
Learn MoreTo be eligible to fly at night using Visual Flight Rules (VFR), pilots must be able to meet various requirements as dictated by the Federal Aviation Regulations.
Learn MoreTraditional aircraft instruments include pitot instruments and gyroscopic instruments. These two designations simply categorize the instruments based on the system in which they receive the information. Gyroscopic instruments include the attitude indicator (AI), heading indicator (HI), and the turn coordinator (TC)— also known as the turn and bank (TB) indicator. Having knowledge of the instrument power system, gyroscopic principles, and individual operating principles of each instrument will help you understand how gyroscopic instruments operate.
Learn MoreIt’s pretty easy to understand speed in a ground vehicle: it’s read right off of the speedometer and all the driver is required to do is follow the speed limit. However, this isn’t the case with aircraft— aerodynamics makes it a little more complicated. There are different types of airspeed and they are indicated airspeed (IAS), true airspeed (TAS), groundspeed (GS), calibrated airspeed (CAS), and equivalent airspeed (EAS).
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